8 Months

It's been 8 months today - 3/4 of a year. For me, the number 13 will forever be associated with Randy. He was diagnosed on July 13, lived 13 months after his diagnosis and passed on August 13. 

I made a trip to North Dakota in March to attend the memorial for Randy and other legislators that had passed away, which was organized by the State Legislature and held on March 13. It was beautiful and emotional to hear Randy's former coach and later colleague talk about him. Nothing prepares you for the moment when his picture appeared on the big screen - smiling in his Tennessee orange and so full of life. The Senate presented me with a copy of their Resolution, and the House sent one to me later. I was glad that I was able to make the trip for Randy.

Back home in Tennessee we are in the season known as the pollening. We have a log home and during the spring the carpenter bees go on attack. One of the things that Randy did was patrol the porch for carpenter bees and yellowjacket nests. I'm allergic to bees, so I happily left that job to Randy. The last time I was stung on my thumb, my entire hand was swollen - think "man hands" on Seinfeld. IYKYK

Now that Randy's gone, I have been patrolling. Yesterday I used an entire can of bee spray - overkill? Possibly, but I'm not taking any chances. I also use Randy's yellow racket to take out any carpenter bees that dare to taunt me. There were several times that Randy would swing and almost dislocate a shoulder and/or fall off the porch. Sometimes I would look out the office window and see him in the backyard with a small rake trying to take them out as they were flying close to him. 

It's those memories that make me smile (even though a tear or two may be falling)



 

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